Enhancing circular economy in construction: a review of reusable materials for cradle-to-cradle resource utilisation

The construction industry is a major consumer of raw materials and a significant source of waste, making the integration of circular economy (CE) principles essential for long-term sustainability. This paper reviews the role of circular reusable materials in achieving Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) resource utilisation within the construction sector. It focuses on strategies for reuse such as materials selection, design for disassembly, supply chain logistics, regulatory frameworks, and environmental impacts. the review also barriers and practical challenges to implementation. Findings show that not all materials are suitable for reuse, and that reuse does not inherently reduce environmental impact, particularly due to recovery and transport activities. Strategic material selection is therefore critical, since unsuitable materials may degrade and ultimately require replacement, undermining the intended benefits. Addressing these challenges require attention to supply chain pressures, costs involved, and regulatory constraints. Policy incentives, standardised material passports, and sector-wide collaboration emerge as key enablers. This review contributes to ongoing discussions by providing a focused synthesis on how reusable materials can advance sustainability and resource efficiency in construction.